Bottle-washing machine.



-11; 717,671. MT TE JAN."6}-1903,

- B..- GALLAGHER. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE APPLICATION Hum ms. 12, 1902.

' I0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wmcdadq jnaarazaz' UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD GALLAGHER, OF LYhiN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOTTLE-WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,671, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed February 18,1902. Serial No. 93,860. (No model.)

full, clear, and exact description of the lllVQIl'.

tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in bottle-washing machines.

The object of my invention is to reorganize and improve bottle-washing machines in order to perfect their construction and produce a durable andefficient machine and at the same time one which requires the consumption of less power and which is cheaper to construct and operate.

To the above end the present invention consists in the bottle-washing machine hereinafter described, and particularly defined in the claims.

In the acconi panying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of-my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a planofthe same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical medial sectional view of the cross-head and parts supported thereby. Fig. iis an enlarged vertical medial sectional view of the hollow shaft and its bearings, together with the water-valve; and Fig. 5is an enlarged elevation of the water-valve and its actuatinglever.

The preferred form of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, consists of a frame 1, provided with a base 2 and surmounted by a table 3, which is inclined from the front to the rear and is provided with upturned edges in order to prevent the Water.

from running off the same. A pipe i is pro vided to carry off the used waters from the table. The frame 1 is provided with bearings 5, carrying a main shaft 6, provided with the usual fast and loose pulleys and the drivingpulley 7. A belt-shipper 8 is provided, which is slidingly mounted in hearings on the under side of the table and provided with a handle 9 at the front end of the table, so that the belt can be thrown on and off without requiring the operator to move from his positionin front of the machine. The rotatable watergeneral way by the refpipe is indicated in a erence character 10. A hollow shaft 11, forming part of said water-pipe, is mounted in bearings 12, supported in any convenient Way from the table and located upon opposite sides of the pulley 13, secured to the hollow shaft 11, which pulley is driven by a belt 14: from the driving-pulley on the main shaft 6. The bearings 12 are pivotally mounted upon adjustable screws 115 in yokes l5, pivotally and adjustably supported in bearings 16, projected upward from the table 3. (See Fig. 4.) From the front end of the hollow shaft 11 extends a pipe 17, which passes through a bearing in the cross-head 18 and supports upon its end a washing-brush 19. The pipe 10 is rotated by means described, but held from longitudinal movement. The water is admitted to the rear end of the hollow shaft 11 through a connecting-pipe 20, screwed into it, and which passes through a packed joint 21 into a valve 22. The water is led to the valve 22 by a pipe 23, extending outwardly toward one side of the machine. The valve 22 consists of a valve-casing provided with a seat and a valve-plunger 24, which is adapted to seat itself against the seat of the valvecasing under the influence of a spring 25, which engages on one side the collar 26, se-

cured to the valve-plunger, and on the other side an adj usting-nut 27, screw-threaded into a sleeve 28, supported from the valve-casing by an arm 29. By adjusting the nut 27 the pressure of the spring can be regulated. (See Fig. 4.) The valve-plunger is provided with two collars 30, which are adapted to be engaged by the forked sides of the lever 31, pivoted upon the arm 29, above referred to. The lever 31 is provided with a roller 32 on its outer end, and underneaththe roller is provided a guide 33, mounted upon and secured to the pipe 23, the same being adapted to guide a rod which when thrust between the guide 33 and the roller 32 will operate to raise the lever 31, and thereby lift the valve-plunger and open the valve. The roller 32 and the guide 33 are preferably oppositely concaved, as shown, in order to receive and guide the end of the rod which is thrust therebetween. (See Fig. 5.) The valve 22 is supported by the pipe 23, which is carried by a clip 34, which embraces said pipe 23 and is projected rearwardly from a portion of the frame of the machine. The rearwardly-projeoted pipe 20 is capable of revolving in the valve 22, the packing 21 preventing leakage.

The cross-head 18, above referred to, a longitudinal medial section of which is illustrated in Fig. 3, is slidingly mounted, by means of guides 118 and 119 upon guide-rods 35, mounted in suitable standards projected upwardfrom the top'of the table 3. Bearings 119 are pivotally supported upon the screws 120, adjustable in the yokes 121, which in turn are adjustable in hearings in the crosshead 18, being secured therein by the setscrews 122. The cross-head 18 carriesa freelyrevol uble sleeve 36, mounted in a bearing 37, concentric with the axis of the Water-pipe 10. The bearing 37 consists of a bushing 38, which is mounted in the cross-head 18 and provided with a reduced forwardly-extending portion 39 and with a reduced rearwardly-extending portion 40, the bearing 37 thus constituting a long support for the revoluble sleeve 36, mounted therein. Fitting over the front end of the reduced portion 39 of the bushing 38 is a collar 41, which is secured to the revoluble sleeve 36 by means of a set-screw 42. Fitting over the rearwardly-projected portion 40 of the bearing 38 is a collar 43, secured to the rear end of the revoluble sleeve 36 by means of a set-screw 44. 41 and 43 prevent the revoluble sleeve 36 from moving endwise in the bearing 37 and prevent the escape of oil from the bearing. Mounted upon the reduced portion 39 of the bushing 38 is an extension 45, the forward end of which provides a bearing for the bottle-ring 46, rotatably mounted in the bearing in the end of the extension 45 and provided on. its reduced diameter with a groove 47, which is engaged by a set-screw 48, so that the bottle-ring 46 may rotate in its bearing and is restrained from longitudinal movement therein. The inside of the bottle-ring 46 afiords a support for the forward end of the revoluble sleeve 36. The rear end of the extension 45 fits the reduced portion of the bushing 38 and is split and clamped to said reduced portion by means of a bolt 49. The rear end of'the revoluble sleeve 36 is provided, either integrally therewith or securely fixed thereto,with a ring 50,which fits the pipe 17 with a running fit. from the end of the sleeve 36, and the portion of the sleeve 36 beyond the same is interiorly screw-threaded and receives a packing-nut 51, by means of which the joint Where the pipe passes through the ring 50may be packed. A stud 52, provided with a bifurcated head, is screwed through the under side of the main boss of the cross-head. This lug 52 affords a convenient means for attaching to the crosshead a spring device normally tending to move the cross-head forward to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring device for actuating the cross-head consists of These two collars The ring 50 is set in the coiled spring 53, provided with the arm 54, to which is pivoted the pitman 55, extending to the lug 52, to which it is secured by means of a bolt 56. The coiled spring 53 normally presses in the direction to move the cross-head forward. The coiled spring is supported upon a cylinder 57, mounted in a bracket 58 and secured upon the upper end of a rod 59, supported in the standard 60, secured to one of the brackets 16, projected upwardly from the table of the machine. When the cross-head is pushed rearwardly, it winds up the spring 53 upon the cylinder 57 and ordinarily would cause the first wind of the spring to bind upon said cylinder; but I have overcome such binding by providing the rollers 61, which bear against the first wind of the spring, being supported by the arm 62, projected from the bracket 58. There are also supported upon the rod 59 stops 63 and 64 for limiting the forward and backward movementsof the cross-head by engagement with the arm 54 of the spring 53. These stops 63 and 64 consist of hooks recessed on the inner side to receive washers of leather backed by rubber and are adjustably secured by wing-nuts 64 to the support 65,mounted upon the rod 59. By this means the traverse of the cross-head may be regulated. It is to be noted in this connection that the connections between the spring and the cross-head are such that the pressure exerted upon the crosshead by the spring does not tend to cramp the cross-head on its guides 35, but, on the contrary, tends to lift the front end of the cross-head, so that it will slide with great ease upon the guides. This is a feature of my invention which conduces to its certainty and ease of operation, and when it is remembered that this machine is continually flooded with Water, so that it is liable to be rusted, it will be recognized that features which conduce to its ease and certainty of operation are of importance. A valve-operating rod 66is mounted in a boss 67 on the cross-head and adjustably secured thereto by means of a set-screw 68 being projected rearwardly from said crosshead and provided on its end with a tapered head 69, which is adapted to enter the opening between the roll 32 on the valve-operating lever and the guide 33 and gradually to open the valve after the cross-head has been moved rearwardly a short distance.

The bottle-washer 19 consists of two resilient arms 70, carrying upon their ends the rubber bottle-washing device 71. The resilient arms 70 are received in notches 72 in a tapered spindle 73 and held in place by the tapered sleeve 74, which is screwed ontothe spindle 73. The spindle 73 is adapted to be screwed into the end of the pipe 17, its outer surface being flush with the outer surface of said pipe, so that the pipe may pass through the end of the packing-joint secured in the end of the revoluble sleeve 36.

The construction of the bottle-washer 19 above described is such that it is easily removed in its entirety from the machine and may be replaced when broken or worn by a new washer, and it is to be noted that the direction in which the resilient arms leave the spindle 73 and sleeve 74, which carry them, is such that the arms bend upon a gradual curve and do not bend sharply, so that they can be compressed without injury. The arms 70 are so formed that as the ends of the washer are compressed toward each other the central portions of the arms touch, thereby relieving the strain upon the arms where they emerge from the spindle and sleeve.

The operation of my improved bottle-washing machine is as follows: The belt will be thrown onto the tight pulley, and a shaft 10 will be set in rotation. The parts will then stand in the position illustrated in the drawings. The neck of a bottle is then presented to the bottle-ring by the operator, who pushes the neck of the bottle against the ring, thereby pushing the cross-head l8 rearyvardly and permitting the bottle-washer 19 to enter the bottle. Then after the cross-head 18 has been pushed rearwardly a sufficient distance the head 69 of the valve-operating rod 66 will enter the space between the roll 32 of the valveoperating lever 31 and the guide 33, thereby lifting the valve-operatin g lever 31 and opening the valve 22 and permitting water to flow from the pipe 23 through the valve 22, pipe 20, hollow shaftll, and pipe 17 into the bottle, it being understood that the bottle-washer is now in the bottle and that its resilient arms have expanded the Washer so that its rubber ends engage the inner surface of the same in rapid rotation and operate to cleanse the same. The operator will move the bottle back and forth on the bottle-washer to cleanse every portion of the interior thereof. When the operator pushes the cross head l8 rearwardly, the spring 53 will be compressed, and when he moves the bottle forward the spring will expand and cause the cross-head 18 to follow the bottle in its forward movements, with-,

drawing the bottle from over the washer and shutting off the water.

It is to be noted that I have provided a peculiar construction within which the bottlewasher 19 is received when the bottle is removed from the machine. It is practically imperative in the operation of this machine that the part with which the tips of the bottle-washer are in engagement should rotate therewith. I have therefore made the bottle ring rotatable independently of the revoluble ring 36, so that when the bottle is presented to the bottle-ring 46 said ring may cease to rotate under the friction between the bottle and it, while the revoluble sleeve still continues to rotate under the influence of the friction which exists between it and the bottle-washer which is inside of it. Then when the cross head 18 has been pushed rearwardly so far that the tips of the bottlewasher 19 emerge from the revoluble sleeve 36 and engage the bottle-ring 46 the latter may then rotate or not, depending upon whether the bottle-washer or the bottle exerts the greater friction thereon. As soon, however, as the bottle-washer has entered the bottle, the bottle of course being held still by the operator, the bottle-ring 46 will no longer rotate, being held still by the bottle, but the sleeve 36, if the friction between it and the pipe 17 is sufficient, will rotate. It is also to be noted that by providing the collars 41 and 43 with the overlapping edges which project over the reduced portions 39 and 40 of the bushing 38 the access of water to the hearing 37 is much impeded, thereby preserving the lubricant in the bearing and conducing to the diminution of the power required to drive the machine. It is also to be noted that, if desired, the guide 33 may be provided with an inclined surface in the nature of a cam, so that when it is turned its surface will be at a greater or less distance from the surface of the roller 32 of the valve-operating lever 31, whereby the lever may be lifted more or less, as may be desired, in order to increase or diminish the amount of water flowing into the bottle being washed.

Another feature of my invention which should not be overlooked is the construction and arrangement of the spring for moving the cross-head forward whereby the friction of the device is much reduced. The provision whereby the pitman 55 is attached upon the under side of the boss of the cross-head is also important for reasons hereinbefore pointed out. It is also to be noted that it is attached to the center of the cross-head, so that it has no tendency to twist the same on its bearings. This construction is much superior to the construction of the prior art in which a rope and pulley are employed for moving the cross-head forward, which rope and pulley are exposed to the action of the water and entail more or less expense to keep them in order, besides which the constructionwas inconvenient for the operator and liable to get out of order.

By making the packing-joint through which the pipe 17 passes into the revoluble sleeve 36 revolve with the revoluble sleeve 36 the wear upon the portion of the pipe engaged by the packing-joint is much reduced. This prevents wearing of the 'end of the water-pipe 17, so that the joint, while itwould be tight for the larger portions of the pipe, would be loose at such point if it were not for this feature of my invention.

Still another feature of my invention which should be noted consists in the relative adjustment of the spindle and of the cross-head so that the wear on the spindle or its bearings, which would tend to throw the spindle, with the brush, out of line with the sleeve on the cross-head, may be adjust-ed for, so that excessive wear or breakage of the bottlewasher may be prevented.

IIO

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a bottle-Washing machine, the combination with a rotatable Water-pipe held from endwise movement, a cross-head, guides for the cross-head so that the cross-head may slide longitudinally of the water-pipe, the cross-head being provided with a revoluble sleeve and a bottle-ring revoluble independently of the sleeve, substantially as described.

2. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination With a rotatable Water-pipe held from longitudinal movement, a cross-head, guides for said cross-head so that the cross-head may reciprocate in the direction of the length of said water-pipe, a bushing mounted in said cross-head to form a bearing, a revoluble sleeve mounted in said bearing and provided at opposite ends with sleeve-collars overlapping the ends of said bushing to prevent the escape of oil therefrom, said sleeve being adapted to receive the water-pipe, substantially as described.

3. I11 a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotatable water-pipe-held from longitudinal movement, a cross-head, guides for said cross-head, a bushing mounted in said cross-head, a revoluble sleeve mounted in said bushing and held from longitudinal movement with relation to said bushing, said revoluble sleeve receiving said water-pipe and being provided with a packing-joint at the end through which the Water-pipe enters the said sleeve, substantially as described.

at. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotatable water-pipe held from longitudinal movement, a cross-head mounted upon guides and movable longitudinally with relation to said pipe, asleeve revolubly mounted in said cross-head and receiving said water-pipe, a spring connected with said cross-head upon the under side of the same and acting in a direction to push the crosshead forward so that the revoluble sleeve shall cover the end of the water-pipe, said connection between said spring and crosshead being constructed to prevent cramping of the cross-head on its guides, substantially as described.

5. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotatable water-pipe held from longitudinal movement, a cross-head, guides forsaid cross-head so that the same may move longitudinally of the water-pipe, a revoluble sleeve mounted in the cross-head and receiving said water-pipe, a spring connected to said cross-head and normally acting to push it to the limit of its forward movement so as to cover the end of the water-pipe, and stops arranged to engage said spring and limit the motions of the cross-head to adapt the same to different lengths of bottles, substantially as described.

6. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotatable Water-pipe held from longitudinal movement, a cross-head provided with a revoluble sleeve adapted to receive said water-pipe, a Valvebetween said water-supply pipe and said rotatable water-pipe, a valve-operating lever mounted on said valve and a valve-operating rod mounted upon said cross-head and acting when the cross-head is moved rearwardly to engage said valve- -operating lever and open said valve, substantially as described.

'7. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination, with a rotatable water-pipe held from longitudinal movement,a cross-head provided with a revoluble sleeve to receive said waterpipe, guides for the cross-head, a water-supply pipe, a valve in the water-supply pipe provided with a valve operating lever, a valve-operatin g rod secured to the cross-head, and a guide supported in proximity to the end of the valve-operating lever and normally out of contact with the valve-operating rod and adapted to guide the end of the valveoperating rod as it approaches the valve-operating lever, substantially as described.

8. In a bottle-Washing machine, the combination with a rotating water-pipe, a longitudinally-movable cross-head embracing the end of the water-pipe, a coiled spring and connections between said spring and cross-head, said coiled spring being provided with springsupporting rollers to reduce the friction of the spring upon its support when it is compressed, substantially as described.

9. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotating water-pipe, a longitudinally-movable cross-head constructed to embrace the end of the water-pipe, a Water-supply pipe provided with a valve, a valveoperating lever mounted on said valve, a valve operating plunger mounted on said cross-head, and a cam-shaped guide arranged in proximity to said valve-operating lever to guide the valve-operating plunger in its motion to engage the end of the valve-operating lever, and acting in its different positions to open said valve to a greater or less extent, substantially as described.

10. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotating water-pipe held from longitudinal movement, a longitudinally-reciprocating cross-head, guides for said crosshead, a bushing mounted in said cross-head, a revoluble sleeve mounted in said bushing and held from longitudinal movement with relation thereto, said water-pipe being provided on its end with an expansible washingbrush, an independently-rotatable bottle-ring supported by said cross-head and affording a bearing for the forward end of the revoluble sleeve, substantially as described.

11. In abottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotating water-pipe, of a bottlewasher mounted on the end of said pipe consisting of a spindle tapered toward the front of the machine and provided with recesses, resilient arms located in said recesses and projected therefrom carrying upon their ends a wiping or Washing device, and a tapered sleeve adapted to be secured to said spindle over the resilient arms to hold the same in place, substantially as described.

12. In abottle-Washing machine, the combination with a rotating, water-pipe, of a bottlewasher mounted on the end of said pipe and consisting of a spindle and resilient arms projected therefrom and carrying upon their ends a wiping or washing device, the arms being so formed that their middle portions will touch when the washing device is compressed, substantially as described.

13. In abottle-washing machine, the combination with a rotatable water-pipe held from endwise movement, of a bottle-Washer mounted on the end of said pipe, a longitudinallyreciprocable cross-head, a revoluble sleeve mounted in an oil-lubricated bearing in said cross head adapted to receive said bottlewasher and rotate therewith, a packing at one end of said sleeve for the water-pipe, secured to the sleeve and rotated therewith and with said water-pipe, and an independently-revoluble bottle-ring mounted upon said crosshead being free to rotate with the sleeve or washer as may be, and adapted to guide the washer back into the sleeve on the forward movement of the cross-head, substantially as described.

14:. In a bottle-washing machine, the combination with a spindle mounted in adjustable bearings, a cross-head provided with adjustable guides, a revoluble sleeve mounted in the cross-head and a bottle-Washer secured to the spindle and arranged to enter the cross-head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BERNARD GALLAGHER.

Witnesses:

HORACE VAN EVEREN, FRED O. FISH. 

